Patient support and transport system

ABSTRACT

A patient support and transport system for a multi-modality medical suite includes a track system with one track in one room aligned with another track in another room. A support carriage coupled to the track system and configured to move between the two rooms. A duplex socket interface module attached to the support carriage and flexible raceway including a first conduit management system coupled to the support carriage and configured to automatically couple with and decouple with the duplex socket interface module. A second conduit management system is coupled to electrical and data ports and include a conduit interface module configured to automatically couple with and decouple with the duplex socket interface module. The patient support and transport system also includes a vertical support member coupled to the support carriage and a support assembly coupled to the vertical support member configured to selectively articulate a patient bed.

IDENTIFICATION OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priorityto application Ser. No. 13/092,643, filed on Apr. 22, 2011, entitled“Shielded Movable Door Element of a Multimodality Medical Suite,” whichis incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure is directed to medical equipment and moreparticularly to a patient transport apparatus movable between a firstroom and a second room of a multimodality medical suite.

Operating rooms will often feature sophisticated imaging systems such asmagnetic resonance scanners, computed tomography scanners, orangiography systems to provide a physician with sub-surfacevisualization capabilities of the patient. Such equipment allows thephysician to select an incision site more precisely and reduce the sizeof an incision during surgery or precisely target the anatomy ofinterest during a stereotactic procedure. The difficulties associatedwith locating these imaging systems in an operating room have ledvendors to implement multi-room suites with patient transport systems tomove the patient from the surgical/procedural/treatment environment toan imaging environment.

Of particular concern is when a patient is under anesthesia because of arisk associated with dislocation of the airway or the multitude ofintravenous fluid lines and other invasive devices associated withanesthesia and patient monitoring. The anesthesiologist and theirassistants are forced to walk alongside the patient during transport,manually rolling the anesthesia machine and patient monitoring systemalongside the patient. Such personnel ensure that none of the tubes, orlines, or hoses get pulled or experience significant tension, while thegas lines, power cords, and data lines stretch progressively furtherfrom their connection points. Such situation also creates a trip anddisconnect hazard. In some cases, the anesthesiologists are forced todisconnect the anesthesia machine from the gas ports in one room andreconnect them to different ports in the second room. During thetransition or movement of the patient from one room to another ananesthesiologist, or an assistant, has to “bag” the patient. If multipleroom-to-room transitions are required, the anesthesia disconnects andreconnects are, at the least, inconvenient and potentially dangerous.

An additional problem occurs when moving a patient into a magneticresonance imaging (MRI) room because the radio frequency (RF) shieldingdoors must provide a complete seal to prevent electronic noise fromgetting into the MR room and corrupting the images. Thus, the doors mustprovide the seal when a diagnostic patient is being scanned and theanesthesia connections are not coming into the room, as well as when asurgical patient is being scanned and the anesthesia connections arecoming into the room.

The apparatus of the present disclosure must also be of constructionwhich is both durable and long lasting, and it should also requirelittle or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout itsoperating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appeal of theapparatus of the present disclosure, it should also be of inexpensiveconstruction to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally,it is also an objective that all of the aforesaid advantages andobjectives be achieved without incurring any substantial relativedisadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed aboveare overcome by the present disclosure.

There is provided a patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite including at least two clinical treatmentrooms separated by a wall including a moveable door. At least one roomis configured with an imaging system.

The patient support and transport system includes a track systemcomprising a pair of tracks, with one track in one room aligned withanother track in the other room. A support carriage is coupled to thetrack system and configured to move between the two rooms of the suite.A flexible raceway is configured to extend within the length of the tworooms of the suite, with one end of the raceway coupled to a duplexsocket interface module coupled to the support carriage. The verticalsupport member is coupled to the support carriage. A support assembly iscoupled to the vertical support member and configured to selectivelyarticulate a patient bed attached to the support assembly.

In another embodiment, the patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite further includes a motor controller coupledto a motor in the support carriage and configured to control movement ofthe carriage in a smooth motion from one room to another room of thesuite.

In another embodiment, the patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite provides that the flexible raceway includesa first conduit management system and a second conduit managementsystem. The first conduit management system includes a first conduitinterface module configured to automatically couple with and decouplefrom the duplex socket interface module, with the first conduitmanagement system coupled to electrical and data ports in the medicaltreatment room.

The second conduit management system is coupled to electrical and dataports in the room with the imaging system and includes a second conduitinterface module configured to automatically couple with and decouplefrom the duplex socket interface module upon movement of the supportcarriage respectively into and out of the room with the imaging system.

There is further provided a patent support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite including at least two clinical treatmentrooms separated by a wall including a moveable door. At least one roomis configured with an imaging system.

The patient support and transport system includes a track systemcomprising a pair of tracks, with one track in one room aligned withanother track in the other room. A support carriage is coupled to thetrack system and configured to move between the two rooms of the suite.A duplex socket interface module is attached to the support carriage.

There is also included a flexible raceway including a first conduitmanagement system and a second conduit management system. The firstconduit management system includes a first conduit interface moduleconfigured to automatically couple with and decouple from the duplexsocket interface module, with the first conduit management systemcoupled to electrical and data ports in the medical treatment room.

The second conduit management system is coupled to electrical and dataports in the room with the imaging system and includes a second conduitinterface module configured to automatically couple with and decouplefrom the duplex socket interface module upon movement of the supportcarriage respectively into and out of the room with the imaging system.The patient support and transport system for a multi-modality medicalsuite also includes a vertical support member coupled to the supportcarriage and a support assembly coupled to the vertical support memberand configured to selectively articulate a patient bed attached to thesupport assembly.

Another embodiment of the patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite provides the support assembly is coupled tothe vertical support member in a cantilevered aspect at one end of thesupport assembly and configured to position a portion of the patient bedat the isocenter of the imaging system.

There is further provided a patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite including at least two clinical treatmentrooms separated by a wall including a door. One room is configured withan imaging system.

The patient support and transport system includes a track systemcomprising a pair of tracks with one track in one room aligned withanother track in another room. A support carriage is coupled to thetrack system and configured to move between two rooms of the suite.

A flexible raceway is configured to extend within the length of the tworooms of the suite with one end of the raceway coupled to the supportcarriage with the flexible raceway further configured to selectivelyextend through a moveable door element in the door of the wall of themodality medical suite. The door is part of the wall positioned betweenthe rooms of the suite.

The moveable door element includes a housing coupled to the door andconfigured to selectively move from a first position to a secondposition. The housing is further configured to move to the secondposition when a shield door component, coupled to the raceway, replacesthe housing and is disposed in a space in the portion of the doorvacated by the door element. A moveable door element further includes ashield component disposed in the housing. The patient support andtransport system for a multi-modality medical suite also includes avertical support member coupled to the support carriage and a supportassembly coupled to the vertical support member and configured toselectively articulate a patient bed attached to the support assembly.

The apparatus of the present disclosure is of a construction which isboth durable and long lasting, and which will require little or nomaintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operatinglifetime. The apparatus of the present disclosure is also of inexpensiveconstruction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it thebroadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages andobjectives are achieved without incurring any substantial relativedisadvantage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the present disclosure are best understoodwith reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, top view of an exemplary embodiment of amultimodality medical suite, including a patient transport apparatus,track system, cable/hose management system and supporting carriage, witha wall having a door apparatus including a movable door element.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the door element of FIG. 1 ina closed (first position) position in the wall between the first andsecond rooms of the suite, and the support carriage and cable/hosemanagement system all within the first room of the suite.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the door apparatus of FIG. 1in an open position with the support carriage and cable/hose managementsystem extending into the second room of the suite.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the door apparatus of FIG. 1in a closed position with the support carriage in the second room andthe cable/hose management system extending within the first and secondrooms of the suite, and the movable door element in a second position ina recess defined in the door.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the door apparatus of FIG. 1in a closed position with the support carriage in the second room andthe cable/hose management system extending within the first and secondrooms of the suite, and the movable door element in a second position atleast 90° relative to the door.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the wall, doors and movable doorelement illustrated in FIG. 1 and illustrating the movable door elementin a second position along side and substantially parallel to the door.

FIG. 7 is a top detail view of the movable door element illustrated inFIG. 1 in a closed position and coupled to an actuator configured tomove the movable door element in and out of a recess defined in thedoor.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of amulti-modality medical suite including a patient transport apparatusincluding a vertical support member coupled to a support carriage and acantilevered support assembly.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the medical suite illustrated inFIG. 8, with the patient transport apparatus in a medical imaging roomof the medical suite.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of amulti-modality medical suite including the patient transport apparatusillustrated in FIG. 8, including a first and second conduit managementsystem configured to couple and decouple with a duplex socket interfacemodule.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the medical suite illustratedin FIG. 10, with the patient transport apparatus at a mid-way locationbetween rooms of the multi-modality suite and illustrating both conduitmanagement systems coupled together through the duplex socket interfacemodule for providing a continuous supply of anesthesia gas to theequipment.

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of amulti-modality medical suite including the patient transport apparatusillustrated in FIG. 10 including an auxiliary support cart coupled tothe cantilevered support assembly.

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of amulti-modality medical suite including a fixed support pedestal in amedical treatment room of the medical suite and illustrating the supportassembly and patient bed decoupled from the fixed support pedestal andin the medical imaging room of the medical suite.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic, top view of anexemplary embodiment of a multimodality medical suite 120. Themultimodality medical suite 120 includes a first room 122 and a secondroom 124 separated by a wall 126. The multi-modality medical suiteusually includes at least two clinical treatment rooms, with one roomconfigured with an imaging system. The first room 122, for example,contains surgical equipment 174 and a patient transport apparatus 178and other appropriate medical treatment equipment, supplies, and relateditems. As described earlier, at times, the patient on the medicaltransport apparatus 178 may have to be moved to a medical imaging system176. The second room 124 of the multimodality medical suite 120 includesa medical imaging system, for example, a magnetic resonance imagingsystem (MRI), a computed tomography scanner (CT), positron emissiontomography (PET) or other types of medical imaging equipment 176.

For purposes of this application the phrase “clinical treatment room”shall mean a room in the multi-modality suite that is configured toprepare a patient for surgery, tests, imaging, therapy, pre-therapy,medical device attachment, repair, insertion, or similar procedures andtreatments as required by an attending physician, with the room equippedwith appropriate equipment, devices and supplies necessary for theintended treatment or procedure.

As disclosed and claimed herein, the wall 126 separating the first room122 and the second room 124 of the multimodality medical suite 120includes a door 128 which is configured to move and open to allow accessbetween the rooms 122, 124 of the multimodality medical suite 120. FIG.1 illustrates an example of a pocket door, FIG. 6 illustrates doors thatmove parallel to the wall 126. The multimodality medical suite 120includes a flexible raceway 136 which functions as a cable/hosemanagement system which is configured to extend within the length of themultimodality medical suite 120 and selectively extend through a portion132 of the door 128.

A space 140 is defined in a portion of the door 132. The space 140 isconfigured to receive one of a movable door element 130 and a shielddoor component 148 as more fully described below. The movable doorelement 130 is mounted on the door 128 so that it is automaticallydisplaced by the shield door component 148 coupled to the flexibleraceway 136 or moved by an actuator 152 coupled to the movable doorelement 130.

The movable door element 130 includes a housing 132 which is coupled tothe door 128 and configured to selectively move from a first position144 to a second position 146. The housing 132 is further configured tomove to the second position 146 when the shield door component 148,which is coupled to the flexible raceway 136, displaces the housing. Theshield door component 148 is then disposed in the space 40 in theportion of the door 132 vacated by the movable door element 130. Thehousing 132 also includes a shield component 150 disposed in the housingwhich assists in maintaining the shield integrity of the multimodalitymedical suite 120.

The movable door element 130, when in the first position 144 ispositioned and functions as a part of the wall 126 of the multimodalitymedical suite 120. The movable door element, in the second position 146,can be in several different configurations as disclosed herein. In oneconfiguration the movable door element 130, when in the second position,is at least 90 degrees relative to the door 128 (see at least FIG. 5).It is also contemplated that other suitable angles can be established incoordination with the movement of the door element 130, the flexibleraceway 136, the door 128, and overall geometry of the multimodalitymedical suite 120. In another configuration, the movable door element130 is in a second position that is alongside and substantially parallelto the door 128 (see FIG. 6). In another configuration, the movable doorelement 130 is configured to move to a second position in a recess 134defined in one of the wall 126 and door 128 (see FIG. 7).

In some of the above-described configurations, an actuator 152 iscoupled to the movable door element 130 and moves the door element 130from the first to the second position and vice versa. The actuator isone of a spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, and amotor. A door control controller 172, in some configurations of themovable door element 130, is coupled to the actuator 152 to providecontrol commands to control the movement of the movable door element130. In some configurations of the movable door element, the door 128pushes the movable door element 130 into the recess 134 and an actuatormoves the movable door element 130 out of the recess 134.

In an embodiment, the actuator 152 moves the movable door element 130from the first position 144 in response to the proximity of the shielddoor component 148. The proximity or distance between the shield doorcomponent 148 and the movable door element 130 will vary from suite tosuite based on the particular geometry of the suite and its components.The proximity distance can be set by an operator with the controller 172described below. The controller 172 signals the actuator, for example anelectric motor, to activate and move the door element 130. In anotherembodiment appropriately positioned sensors, for example optical ormagnetic sensors, in, for example the door element 130 and shield doorcomponent, will provide a signal to an actuator to facilitate themovement of the door element 130.

As discussed above, the room volume of the multimodality medical suite120 that contains the medical imaging equipment 176 must be shieldedfrom various types of influences to properly function. Accordingly, themultimodality medical suite 120 walls typically include a shieldcomponent 150 that is selected from a group consisting of a radiationshield, (for example, foamed aluminum), a radiofrequency shield, (forexample, a copper mesh), an acoustic shield, (for example, dimensionalcork), a gas seal, (for example, appropriate gaskets), and a combinationof any two such shield components.

The movable doors 128 and wall 126 separating the first and secondrooms, 122, 124 of the multimodality medical suite 120 must also includea shield component 150. It follows that the movable door element 130must also provide a shield function and therefore includes a shieldcomponent 150 disposed in the housing 142 of the movable door element130. However, when the patient transport apparatus 178 moves from thefirst room 122 to the second room 124 including the flexible raceway136, which passes through the space 140 in the portion of the door 132(see FIGS. 3-5), shield integrity is compromised unless the shield doorcomponent 148 replaces the movable door element which now is in positiontwo 146.

The shield door component 148 which is coupled to the flexible raceway136 provides the necessary shield function when the door 128 is closedand the flexible raceway 136 extends in both the first room 122 andsecond room 124 as illustrated in at least FIGS. 4 and 5 of thisdisclosure. As such the shield integrity of the multimodality medicalsuite 120 is maintained.

The shield door component 148 is positioned along the flexible raceway136 so that the shield door component 148 either moves the housing fromthe portion of the door when the flexible raceway 136 is extendedbetween the two rooms 122, 124 of the multimodality medical suite 120and/or the shield door component 148 is positioned in the space 140 inthe portion of the door 142 vacated by the movable door element 130 whenthe movable door element moves to its second position 146. As describedabove, the movement of the movable door element 130 from the firstposition 144 to the second position 146 can be accomplished by actuationof the actuator 152 or the force applied to the movable door element 130by the door 128.

The multimodality medical suite 120 also includes a track system 154extending within the first and second rooms 122, 124 of themultimodality medical suite 120. The track system 154 may be positionedin the floor of the multimodality medical suite 120, in the sidewalls ofthe multimodality medical suite 120, or in the ceiling of themultimodality medical suite 120. As illustrated in the figures, thetrack system is positioned in or near the ceiling of the multimodalitymedical suite 120.

In some configurations, the track system 154 may include multiple partswith one part 156 disposed in the first room 122 and a second part 158of the track system 154 disposed in the second room 124. In the latterconfiguration, the gap between the track parts 156, 158 is at least thedistance equal to the thickness of the door 128 separating the two rooms122, 124 of the multimodality medical suite 120.

The track system 154 is composed of material, for example metal orcomposite material, that is sufficiently strong and durable to supportany equipment (some of which are described below) coupled to the tracksystem 154. The track system 154 is also compatible and suitable withthe medical treatment and medical imaging environment of themultimodality medical suite 120.

A support carriage 160 is coupled to the track system and configured tomove between the first and second rooms 122, 124 of the multimodalitymedical suite 120. One end 137 of the flexible raceway is coupled to thesupport carriage 160. Another end 138 is coupled to sources of fluid,electric power, and data. The support carriage 160 is further configuredto span the gap between the track portions 156, 158 so that motion ofthe support carriage 160 is not impeded when moving between the firstand second rooms 122, 124 of the multimodality medical suite 120.

In another configuration of a multi-modality medical suite 120, thesupport carriage 160 includes a duplex socket interface module 139coupled to the support carriage 160. One end 137 of the flexible raceway136 is coupled to the duplex socket interface module 139. In FIG. 1 theduplex socket interface module 139 is illustrated having a circularconfiguration and mounted on a top surface of the support carriage 160.In FIG. 8 the duplex socket interface module 139 is illustrated in arectangular configuration and also mounted on top of the supportcarriage 160. However, it should be understood that the duplex socketinterface module 139 could also be mounted on a lower surface of thesupport carriage or integrated into the support carriage interior asdetermined by a user and/or manufacturer of the patient supporttransportation system 100 of the multi-modality medical suite 120.

In the above-described configuration of a multi-modality medical suite120, the flexible raceway includes a first conduit management system 206and a second conduit management system 210. The first conduit managementsystem 206 includes a first conduit interface module 208 configured toautomatically couple with and decouple from the duplex socket interfacemodule 139. The first conduit management system 206 is configured tocouple to electrical 166 and data ports 170 in the medical treatmentroom 122 and to the support carriage 160.

The second conduit management system 210 is coupled to electrical 166and data ports 170 in the imaging room 124 and includes a second conduitinterface module 212 configured to automatically couple with anddecouple from the duplex socket interface module 139 upon movement ofthe support carriage 160 into and out of the medical imaging room 124.The above-described configuration will maintain the integrity of theshielding in the imaging room 124 since the flexible raceway 136,because it is in two parts, does not have to extend through the wall 126separating the two rooms 122, 124. With this configuration, the patienton the patient bed 182 is still connected to the medical monitoringdevice 194 and anesthesia delivery system 196 as the patient transportapparatus 178 moves between the two rooms 122, 124.

The support carriage 160 can be articulated by a motor 186, for examplean electric motor, or manually by medical personnel. The supportcarriage 160 is provided with appropriate motive support devices, forexample wheels 214, 216 or slats with a slippery surface, configured tosmoothly and efficiently allow the support carriage 160 to move alongeach track of the track system 154, including spanning a gap in thetrack system 154 if necessary. The support carriage 160 and track system154 are appropriately grounded electrically to prevent sparking orelectrical discharge as a result of movement of the support carriage160. A motor controller 188, coupled to the motor 186 controls movementof the support carriage 160 as determined by an operator either in themedical suite 120 or remotely.

Coupled to the support carriage 160 is a medical equipment boom 162which is also coupled to the flexible raceway 136 and configured to movebetween the first and second rooms 122, 124 of the multimodality medicalsuite 120 with the support carriage 160. In one embodiment, a medicalequipment interface console 164 is coupled to the medical equipment boom162 with the medical equipment interface console 164 further coupled toelectrical, fluid, and data conduits disposed in the flexible raceway. Asuite interface 220, located in at least one of the rooms 122, 124 ofthe multi-modality suite 120 includes ports for power, fluid, data,video, etc. corresponding to the conduits in the raceways and the portsin the medical equipment interface console 164.

The medical equipment boom 162 is composed of material, for examplemetal or composite material, that is sufficiently strong and durable tosupport any equipment, such as the medical equipment interface console164. The boom, typically is tubular in cross-section and of sufficientvolume to accommodate the various above described conduits disposedwithin the boom.

The boom 162 is of sufficient length to provide movement and position ofthe console 164 completely around the patient transport apparatus 178.The movement of the boom 162 may be facilitated by a motor, for examplean electric motor, but more typically by a manually applied force.

In another embodiment, the support carriage 160 includes a verticalsupport member 161 which is coupled to the support carriage 160. Thevertical support member 161 can be configured to be selectively,vertically adjustable relative to the support carriage 160. Asillustrated in FIG. 10, the vertical support member 161 is configured asa telescopic assembly having at least two members. However, it iscontemplated that any number of telescopic members can compose thevertical support member as determined by a user and/or manufacturer. Themovement of the vertical support member 161 can be facilitated by anactuator, such as an electric motor, or hydraulic cylinder.

The patient support and transport system 100 also includes a supportassembly 184 which is coupled to the vertical support member 161 andconfigured to selectively articulate a patient bed 182 attached to thesupport assembly 184. The support assembly 184 for the patient bed 182is configured to articulate the bed to at least a Trendelenburg, reverseTrendelenburg, tilt, and roll position with appropriate actuators andbreaks 236 in the bed 182 and support assembly 184 to angulate andposition a patient's legs and torso. The bed 182 typically includesseveral portions as illustrated in FIG. 10 for example. The portion 230,232, and 234 are configured to support different portions of a patientin different positions. At least one bed portion, for example 234, alsoincludes attachment sockets 190 described below.

The support assembly 184 is coupled to the vertical support member 161in a cantilevered aspect at one end of the support assembly 163 andconfigured to position a portion of the patient bed 182 at the isocenterof the imaging system 176. See at least FIGS. 10 and 11. The supportassembly 163 is coupled to the vertical support member 161 in anyconvenient and conventional manner that is sufficient to support thepatient bed 182 and actuators used to articulate the patient bed.

In another embodiment, the support assembly 184 defines attachmentsockets 190, with the attachment sockets 190 configured to receiveimaging devices and related attachments. In some circumstances, theimaging system uses accessories that are attached to the supportassembly 184 at the sockets 190 to provide, including, power, datasignals, patient stabilization, MR surface coils, RF ablation probes,microwave ablation probes, catheter and cryotherapy probes.

In an exemplary embodiment of the medical equipment interface console164, the medical equipment interface console 164 includes electricalsockets 166, fluid sockets 168, data ports 170, and video ports 180.Each of these ports are coupled to appropriate electrical, fluid, anddata conduits disposed in the flexible raceway. Such conduits can beconvenient and conventional conduits such as wires, optical paths,hoses, cables, and in some cases wireless communication devices. All theconduits are coupled to appropriate sources and supplies at the end ofthe flexible raceway 138 coupled to the support carriage 160.

The electric supply is AC and DC power to operate various medicalequipment, for example, ventilator, infusion pump, stimulators andmonitors, needed for a specific patient on the patient transportapparatus 178. The fluid supply is one of liquid and gas. The liquid canbe intravenous fluid and medications. The gas is anesthesia gases suchas oxygen, nitrogen, nitrous oxide and such other gases determined by ananesthesiologist. The data signals are from various sensors coupled to apatient and equipment associated with the patient on the patienttransport apparatus 178.

In one embodiment the medical monitoring device 194, anesthesia deliverysystem 196 and interface console 164 are coupled to the equipment boom162 and connected to the appropriate conduits disposed in the flexibleraceway 136 and coupled to the PTA 178. The PTA 178 is also coupled tothe support carriage 160. The interface console 164 supplies theelectrical power, fluid and gasses for the medical monitoring device 194and anesthesia delivery system 196.

The patient transport apparatus 178 (PTA) is coupled to the supportcarriage 160 and may include wheels that can be selectively removedand/or retracted. In another embodiment the PTA 78 is coupled to thesupport carriage 160 but is not removable.

The PTA is configured to support a patient during medical treatment andin some circumstances during medical imaging. The support of the patientcan be provided by, for example, a mattress, a sling system, a system ofpadded slats, and combinations of such support elements. Some medicalimaging procedures require the patient to be transferred to a platformassociated with the imaging equipment, for example some MRI machines,however the PTA is configured to keep the patient on the patient bed 182while the patient is in the suite 120. The PTA is also configured tosupport medical equipment, for example intravenous fluid stanchions,cardiac monitoring equipment, and the like. It is contemplated that thePTA 178 in the multimodality medical suite 120 has all monitoring,support, fluid transfer and power provided by the interface console 164coupled to the boom 162. The PTA is composed of material that is ofsufficient strength, durability, and compatibility with the medicalequipment of the multimodality medical suite 120, for example stainlesssteel, or composite materials, for example, an engineered plastic orcarbon fiber.

In one embodiment, the medical equipment is removably coupled directlyto the PTA 178 and moves with the PTA as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, and13. The interface console 164 coupled to the equipment boom 162 andconnected to the appropriate conduits disposed in the flexible raceway136 is coupled to the PTA 178. The PTA 178 is also coupled to thesupport carriage 160. The interface console 164 supplies the electricalpower, fluid and gasses for the medical monitoring device 194 andanesthesia delivery system 196. It is also contemplated that the devices194 and 196 can be independently moved as determined by an operator.

The interface console 164 and the boom 162 will move with the PTA 178 sothat a patient on the PTA will still be provided with the necessarymonitoring, treatment and related support apparatus. The interfaceconsole 164 is configured to be coupled to electrical, fluid and dataconduits available in either the first or second rooms, 122, 124.

In another embodiment, the patient support and transport system 100includes a wheeled auxiliary support cart 198 that is coupled to thesupport assembly 184. The wheeled auxiliary support cart 198 isconfigured to move with the PTA 178 in unison with the support carriage160 as the PTA 178 moves between rooms 122, 124 of the medical suite120. A motor 200 in the wheeled auxiliary support cart 198 is configuredto provide motive force to the wheeled support cart 198 and is alsoconfigured to operate a selective, adjustable vertical column which is apart of the wheeled auxiliary support cart 198.

In another embodiment, a fixed port pedestal 202 is included in thepatient support and transport apparatus 100. The fixed support pedestal202 is fixed in the medical treatment room 122 of the multi-modalitymedical suite 120. The fixed support pedestal 202 is configured forselective, adjustable vertical movement to accommodate variousconditions within the medical treatment room 122 and is powered by amotor 204 in the pedestal of the fixed support pedestal 202. The motor,or actuator 204, is also configured to selectively articulate thepatient bed 182.

Control of either the wheeled auxiliary support cart 198 and the fixedsupport pedestal 202 can be controlled locally at each device, or fromthe medical suite control station 218 typically located outside of themedical suite 120. The medical suite control station 218 is configuredto control the various apparatus, lighting, ventilation, positioning,and related operations to coordinate and assist in the functionality ofthe medical suite 120. Such operations can be controlled with hardwireor wireless connectivity and it is also contemplated that some or all ofthe functions in the medical suite 120 can be controlled remotely from alocation other than within the medical suite 120 or from the medicalsuite control station 218.

A door control controller 172, in an exemplary embodiment of the movabledoor element 130, is coupled to the door 128 of the multimodalitymedical suite 120 and the housing 142. The door control controller 172is configured to detect the position of the support carriage 160 whereinthe controller will cause the actuator 152 to move the housing 142 tothe second position 146 when the support carriage 160 moves to thesecond room 124 and extending the flexible raceway through the space 140in the portion of the door 162 configured before such operation. Thedoor controller 172 is also coupled to sensors, for example proximitysensors, to prevent the PTA 178 from contacting the door 128 when thedoor is closed. The door control controller 172 can be mounted directlyon the support carriage 160 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or it may bemounted at any convenient location within or without the multimodalitymedical suite 120.

The controller 172 may be a microprocessor coupled to the variousapparatus of the system. The controller 172 may also be a server coupledto an array of peripherals or a desktop computer, or a laptop computer,or a smart-phone. It is also contemplated that the controller isconfigured to control each individual machine and may be remote from anyof the apparatus. Communication between the controller 172 and thevarious apparatus may be either by hardwire or wireless devices. Amemory/data base coupled to the controller may be remote from thecontroller 172. The controller 172 typically includes an input device,for example a mouse, or a keyboard, and a display device, for example amonitor screen or a smart phone. Such devices can be hardwired to thecontroller or connected wirelessly with appropriate software, firmware,and hardware. The display device may also include a printer coupled tothe controller 172. The display device may be configured to mail or faxreports as determined by a user. The controller 172 may be coupled to anetwork, for example, a local area network or a wide area network, whichcan be one of a hardwire network and a wireless network, for example aBluetooth network or internet network, for example, by a WIFI connectionor “cloud” connection.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining oftwo components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to oneanother. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature.Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical ormechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or the two componentsand any additional member being attached to one another. Such adjoiningmay be permanent in nature or alternatively be removable or releasablein nature.

Although the foregoing description of the present shielded, movable doorelement of a medical imaging/treatment suite and a patient support andtransport system has been shown and described with reference toparticular embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments andapplications disclosed. It will be apparent to those having ordinaryskill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, variations, oralterations to the shielded, movable door element and patient supportand transport system of a medical imaging/treatment suite as describedherein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of thepresent disclosure. The particular embodiments and applications werechosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principlesof the disclosure and its practical application to thereby enable one ofordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications,variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within thescope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claimswhen interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they arefairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite including at least two clinical treatmentrooms separated by a wall including a movable door, with at least oneroom configured with an imaging system, the patient support andtransport system comprising: a track system comprising a pair of tracks,with one track in one room aligned with another track in the other room;a support carriage coupled to the track system and configured to movebetween the two rooms of the suite; a flexible raceway configured toextend within the length of the two rooms of the suite, with one end ofthe raceway coupled to a duplex socket interface module coupled to thesupport carriage; a vertical support member coupled to the supportcarriage; and a support assembly coupled to the vertical support memberand configured to selectively articulate a patient bed attached to thesupport assembly, wherein the support assembly is coupled to thevertical support member in a cantilevered aspect at one end of thesupport assembly and configured to position a portion of the patient bedat the isocenter of the imaging system.
 2. The patient support andtransport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 1, furthercomprising a motor controller coupled to a motor in the support carriageand configured to control movement of the carriage in a smooth motionfrom one room to the other room of the suite, with the motor configuredto move the support carriage along the track system in response to asignal from the motor controller.
 3. The patient support and transportsystem for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 1, further comprisingattachment sockets defined in the support assembly, with the attachmentsockets configured to receive imaging devices.
 4. The patient supportand transport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 1,including a medical equipment boom coupled to the vertical supportmember and coupled to electrical, fluid, and data conduits disposed inthe flexible raceway.
 5. The patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite of claim 4, including a medical equipmentinterface console attached to the medical equipment boom and coupled tothe conduits disposed in the flexible raceway.
 6. The patient supportand transport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 4,including a medical monitoring device coupled to the medical equipmentboom.
 7. The patient support and transport system for a multi-modalitymedical suite of claim 4, including an anesthesia delivery systemcoupled to the medical equipment boom.
 8. The patient support andtransport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 1, whereinthe vertical support member is selectively, vertically adjustablerelative to the support carriage.
 9. The patient support and transportsystem for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 1, including awheeled auxiliary support cart configured to selectively couple to thesupport assembly and patient bed.
 10. The patient support and transportsystem for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 9, wherein thewheeled auxiliary support cart includes a motor coupled to cart wheelsand configured to move the cart.
 11. The patient support and transportsystem for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 1, including a fixedsupport pedestal in the medical treatment room configured to selectivelyengage and support the patient bed, with the fixed support pedestalincluding an actuator configured to selectively articulate the patientbed.
 12. The patient support and transport system for a multi-modalitymedical suite of claim 1, wherein the flexible raceway comprises: afirst conduit management system including a first conduit interfacemodule configured to automatically couple with and decouple from theduplex socket interface module, with the first conduit management systemcoupled to electrical and data ports in the medical treatment room; anda second conduit management system coupled to electrical and data portsin the room with the imaging system and including a second conduitinterface module configured to automatically couple with and decouplefrom the duplex socket interface module upon movement of the supportcarriage respectively into and out of the room with the imaging system.13. The patient support and transport system for a multi-modalitymedical suite of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second conduitmanagement systems are configured to function independently when notcoupled together.
 14. The patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite of claim 1, further comprising a pair ofwheel sets mounted on each end of the support carriage, with each wheelset configured to movably engage one of the tracks of the track systemand one of each wheel set on each end of the carriage further configuredto support the carriage during transition of the carriage from one roomto the other room of the multi-modality suite.
 15. A patient support andtransport system for a multi-modality medical suite including at leasttwo clinical treatment rooms separated by a wall including a movabledoor, with at least one room configured with an imaging system, thepatient support and transport system comprising: a track systemcomprising a pair of tracks, with one track in one room aligned withanother track in the other room; a support carriage coupled to the tracksystem and configured to move between the two rooms of the suite; aduplex socket interface module attached to the support carriage; aflexible raceway comprising: a first conduit management system includinga first conduit interface module configured to automatically couple withand decouple from the duplex socket interface module, with the firstconduit management system coupled to electrical and data ports in themedical treatment room; and a second conduit management system coupledto electrical and data ports in the room with the imaging system andincluding a second conduit interface module configured to automaticallycouple with and decouple from the duplex socket interface module uponmovement of the support carriage respectively into and out of the roomwith the imaging system; a vertical support member coupled to thesupport carriage; and a support assembly coupled to the vertical supportmember and configured to selectively articulate a patient bed attachedto the support assembly.
 16. The patient support and transport systemfor a multi-modality medical suite of claim 15, further comprising amotor controller coupled to a motor in the support carriage andconfigured to control movement of the carriage in a smooth motion fromone room to the other room of the suite, with the motor configured tomove the support carriage along the track system in response to a signalfrom the motor controller.
 17. The patient support and transport systemfor a multi-modality medical suite of claim 15, wherein the supportassembly is coupled to the vertical support member in a cantileveredaspect at one end of the support assembly and configured to position aportion of the patient bed at the isocenter of the imaging system. 18.The patient support and transport system for a multi-modality medicalsuite of claim 15, further comprising attachment sockets defined in thesupport assembly, with the attachment sockets configured to receiveimaging devices.
 19. The patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite of claim 15, including a medical equipmentboom coupled to the vertical support member and coupled to electrical,fluid, and data conduits disposed in the flexible raceway.
 20. Thepatient support and transport system for a multi-modality medical suiteof claim 19, including a medical equipment interface console attached tothe medical equipment boom and coupled to the conduits disposed in theflexible raceway, with the medical equipment interface console furtherconfigured to couple to a mobile anesthesia system.
 21. The patientsupport and transport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim19, including a medical monitoring device coupled to the medicalequipment boom.
 22. The patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite of claim 19, including an anesthesiadelivery system coupled to the medical equipment boom.
 23. The patientsupport and transport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim15, wherein the vertical support member is selectively, verticallyadjustable relative to the support carriage.
 24. The patient support andtransport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 15,including a wheeled auxiliary support cart configured to selectivelycouple to the support assembly and patient bed.
 25. The patient supportand transport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 24,wherein the wheeled auxiliary support cart includes a motor coupled tocart wheels and configured to move the cart.
 26. The patient support andtransport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 15,including a fixed support pedestal in the medical treatment roomconfigured to selectively engage and support the patient bed, with thefixed support pedestal including an actuator configured to selectivelyarticulate the patient bed.
 27. A patient support and transport systemfor a multi-modality medical suite including at least two clinicaltreatment rooms separated by a wall including a door, with one roomconfigured with an imaging system, the patient support and transportsystem comprising: a track system comprising a pair of tracks, with onetrack in one room aligned with another track in the other room; asupport carriage coupled to the track system and configured to movebetween the two rooms of the suite; a flexible raceway configured toextend within the length of the two rooms of the suite, with one end ofthe raceway coupled to the support carriage with the flexible racewayfurther configured to selectively extend through a movable door elementin the door of the wall of the multimodality medical suite, the door ispart of the wall positioned between the rooms of the suite, the movabledoor element comprising: a housing coupled to the door and configured toselectively move from a first position to a second position, wherein thehousing is further configured to move to the second position when ashield door component, coupled to the raceway, replaces the housing andis disposed in a space in the portion of the door vacated by the doorelement, and a shield component disposed in the housing; a verticalsupport member coupled to the support carriage; and a support assemblycoupled to the vertical support member and configured to selectivelyarticulate a patient bed attached to the support assembly.
 28. Thepatient support and transport system for a multi-modality medical suiteof claim 27, wherein the movable door element includes an actuatorconfigured to return the door element to the first position when theshield door component vacates the space originally occupied by themovable door element.
 29. The patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite of claim 27, wherein the shield componentis one selected from a group consisting of a radiation shield, a radiofrequency shield, an acoustic shield, a gas seal, and a combination ofany two such shield components.
 30. The patient support and transportsystem for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 28, wherein theactuator is one of a spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder,and a motor.
 31. The patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite of claim 27, further comprising a motorcontroller coupled to a motor in the support carriage and configured tocontrol movement of the carriage in a smooth motion from one room to theother room of the suite, with the motor configured to move the supportcarriage along the track system in response to a signal from the motorcontroller.
 32. The patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite of claim 27, wherein the support assemblyis coupled to the vertical support member in a cantilevered aspect atone end of the support assembly and configured to position a portion ofthe patient bed at the isocenter of the imaging system.
 33. The patientsupport and transport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim27, further comprising attachment sockets defined in the supportassembly, with the attachment sockets configured to receive imagingdevices.
 34. The patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite of claim 27, including a medical equipmentboom coupled to the vertical support member and coupled to electrical,fluid, and data conduits disposed in the flexible raceway.
 35. Thepatient support and transport system for a multi-modality medical suiteof claim 34, including a medical equipment interface console attached tothe medical equipment boom and coupled to the conduits disposed in theflexible raceway.
 36. The patient support and transport system for amulti-modality medical suite of claim 34, including a medical monitoringdevice coupled to the medical equipment boom.
 37. The patient supportand transport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim 34,including an anesthesia delivery system coupled to the medical equipmentboom.
 38. The patient support and transport system for a multi-modalitymedical suite of claim 27, wherein the vertical support member isselectively, vertically adjustable relative to the support carriage. 39.The patient support and transport system for a multi-modality medicalsuite of claim 27, including a wheeled auxiliary support cart configuredto selectively couple to the support assembly and patient bed.
 40. Thepatient support and transport system for a multi-modality medical suiteof claim 39, wherein the wheeled auxiliary support cart includes a motorcoupled to cart wheels and configured to move the cart.
 41. The patientsupport and transport system for a multi-modality medical suite of claim27, including a fixed support pedestal in the medical treatment roomconfigured to selectively engage and support the patient bed, with thefixed support pedestal including an actuator configured to selectivelyarticulate the patient bed.